Syracuse's C.J. Fair led all scorers with 22 points ATLANTA — John Beilein is known for his meticulous preparation — cutting his own film, diagramming plays on a coffee table that doubles as a drawing board.
Give him six days to prepare for the vaunted 2-3 zone of Syracuse, and it should have come as no surprise that he had his young but experienced group of Wolverines ready.
BOX SCORE: Michigan tops Syracuse
BACKGROUND: Wolverines coach John Beilein 'born to coach'
Michigan used a combination of crisp passing, timely outside shooting and, mostly, their big man Mitch McGary to methodically pick apart the zone. The team shot 39.6% from the field — but 44% in the first half — en route to a 61-56 win Saturday night in the Georgia Dome.
McGary posted his third double-double of the past four games with 10 points, 12 boards and six assists, his NBA draft stock skyrocketing as his production increases. He swatted balls away on the defensive end, pulled down key rebounds and even taking the ball up the court occasionally. In short, McGary did it all, and when he couldn't, his fellow big man, redshirt junior Jordan Morgan stepped in.
Morgan drew a charge call in the final seconds and punctuated the game with a dunk to seal the victory.
Michigan will face the NCAA Tournament's overall No. 1 seed, Louisville, Monday night for a chance to win the second national championship in program history. The Wolverines won their lone title in 1989.
THE FAB FIVE: Where are they now?
TITLE CLASH: Michigan, Louisville set for big showdown
Playing in their first Final Four since the Fab Five era, these Wolverines relied on their freshmen, whom they refuse to dub "Fab." (Call them the Fresh Five, if anything.)
For much of the season, Nik Stauskas and Glenn Robinson III carried the weight of expectations — and the scoring load. McGary came on late, blossoming over the past month into a reliable frontcourt threat and adding a different dimension to an already potent offense.
TOP PERFORMANCES OF NCAA TOURNAMENT 
Michigan forward Mitch McGary helped take the Wolverines to the national championship game with 11 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in a 61-56 win over Syracuse.
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Louisville swingman Luke Hancock came off the bench to score 20 points and hit three 3-pointers in the Cardinals' win over Wichita State in the national semifinals.]()
Louisville swingman Luke Hancock came off the bench to score 20 points and hit three 3-pointers in the Cardinals' win over Wichita State in the national semifinals.
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Seth Curry hit six 3-pointers and scored 29 points in Duke's Sweet 16 win over Michigan State.]()
Seth Curry hit six 3-pointers and scored 29 points in Duke's Sweet 16 win over Michigan State.
Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Michigan guard Trey Burke hit this 3-pointer in the closing seconds of regulation to force overtime, where the Wolverines went on to defeat Kansas in the Sweet 16. Burke scored 23 total points with 10 assists.]()
Michigan guard Trey Burke hit this 3-pointer in the closing seconds of regulation to force overtime, where the Wolverines went on to defeat Kansas in the Sweet 16. Burke scored 23 total points with 10 assists.
Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Louisville Cardinals guard Russ Smith tied a career high with 31 points against the Oregon Ducks in the Sweet 16.]()
Louisville Cardinals guard Russ Smith tied a career high with 31 points against the Oregon Ducks in the Sweet 16.
Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Syracuse guard Michael Carter-Williams had 24 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals in a Sweet 16 win against Indiana.]()
Syracuse guard Michael Carter-Williams had 24 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals in a Sweet 16 win against Indiana.
Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![LaQuinton Ross had 14 of his 17 points, including a game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds, in the second half as Ohio State beat Arizona 73-70 in the Sweet 16.]()
LaQuinton Ross had 14 of his 17 points, including a game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds, in the second half as Ohio State beat Arizona 73-70 in the Sweet 16.
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Jeff Withey's game against UNC]()
Kansas center Jeff Withey had 16 points, 16 rebounds and 5 blocks during the Jayhawks' 70-58 win over North Carolina in the third round.
Denny Medley, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Sherwood Brown's game against Georgetown]()
Florida Gulf Coast guard Sherwood Brown recorded 24 points and 9 rebounds during the Eagles' 78-68 upset win over Georgetown in the second round.
Howard Smith, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Mark Lyons' game against Harvard]()
Arizona guard Mark Lyons dropped 27 points while going 12-17 from the field to lead the Wildcats to a 74-51 win over Harvard.
Steve Dykes, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Mitch McGary's game against VCU]()
Michigan forward Mitch McGary scored 21 points on 10-11 shooting and pulled down 14 rebounds during the Wolverines' 78-53 win over VCU in the third round.
Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Russ Smith's game against Louisville]()
Louisville guard Russ Smith scored 27 points going 4-7 from three and 9-10 from the line during the Cardinals' 82-56 win over Colorado State in the third round.
Mark Zerof, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Khalif Wyatt against Indiana]()
Temple guard Khalif Wyatt played every minute and scored 31 points while posting a 50.0 FG% and two steals in a 58-52 loss to Indiana in the third round.
Frank Victores, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Derrick Nix's game against Valparaiso]()
Michigan State forward Derrick Nix scored 23 points and posted 15 rebounds during the Spartans' 65-54 win over Valparaiso in the second round.
Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Andre Hollins' game against UCLA]()
Minnesota guard Andre Hollins scored 28 points, collected 9 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists during the Golden Gophers' 83-63 round two win over UCLA. Hollins went 5-8 from three.
Jim Cowsert, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Doug McDermott's game against Cincinnati]()
Creighton forward Doug McDermott put up 27 points, including a perfect 11-11 from the line, and 11 rebounds to lead the Bluejays to a 67-63 win over Cincinnati in the second round.
Howard Smith, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Vander Blue's game against Butler]()
Marquette guard Vander Blue scored 29 points going 3-4 from three and a perfect 8-8 from the line against Butler. Blue added four steals in the Golden Eagles' 74-72 round three win.
Mark Zerof, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries: Replay
Autoplay Show Thumbnails Show Captions Fullscreen Last Slide Next Slide Michigan was fortunate he did and continued to play well Saturday because its national player of the year point guard Trey Burke struggled offensively all night long. He didn't score until the final minute of the first half and shot 1-for-8 on the night, while missing a free throw with the Wolverines clinging to a late two-point lead. Michigan received 21 points from its bench, and Tim Hardaway Jr. and Glenn Robinson – the sons with the famous fathers – added 23 combined.
Syracuse's offense kept the Orange in the game until the final seconds, led by C.J. Fair's 22 points. Fair had hoped to follow a fellow Baltimore native – Carmelo Anthony – in leading Syracuse to another national championship 10 years after its last. Instead, his heroic effort fell short, due in large part from a lack of production from two of the Orange's other key contributors all season. Michael Carter-Williams and James Southerland combined for just seven points in what could be the final game of Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim's illustrious career, if he chooses to retire this offseason.
Beilein had been 0-for-9 against Boeheim in his career entering Saturday.
BEST NCAA TOURNEY PHOTOS: FINAL FOUR ACTION 
Syracuse Orange forward James Southerland dunks over Michigan Wolverines forward Mitch McGary in the second half of the semifinals during the Final Four at the Georgia Dome.
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Michigan Wolverines guard Tim Hardaway Jr. and Syracuse Orange forward James Southerland react in the second half of the semifinals during the Final Four at the Georgia Dome.]()
Michigan Wolverines guard Tim Hardaway Jr. and Syracuse Orange forward James Southerland react in the second half of the semifinals during the Final Four at the Georgia Dome.
Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Syracuse Orange forward Rakeem Christmas shoots between Michigan Wolverines guard Tim Hardaway Jr. and forward Mitch McGary in the second half of the semifinals during the Final Four at the Georgia Dome.]()
Syracuse Orange forward Rakeem Christmas shoots between Michigan Wolverines guard Tim Hardaway Jr. and forward Mitch McGary in the second half of the semifinals during the Final Four at the Georgia Dome.
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Michigan Wolverines forward Glenn Robinson III dunks over Syracuse Orange forward James Southerland in the second half of the semifinals during the Final Four at the Georgia Dome.]()
Michigan Wolverines forward Glenn Robinson III dunks over Syracuse Orange forward James Southerland in the second half of the semifinals during the Final Four at the Georgia Dome.
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Syracuse Orange forward Rakeem Christmas dunks over Michigan Wolverines forward Mitch McGary in the second half of the semifinals during the Final Four at the Georgia Dome.]()
Syracuse Orange forward Rakeem Christmas dunks over Michigan Wolverines forward Mitch McGary in the second half of the semifinals during the Final Four at the Georgia Dome.
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Michigan Wolverines forward Mitch McGary shoots over Syracuse Orange forward Rakeem Christmas in the second half of the semifinals during the Final Four at the Georgia Dome.]()
Michigan Wolverines forward Mitch McGary shoots over Syracuse Orange forward Rakeem Christmas in the second half of the semifinals during the Final Four at the Georgia Dome.
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Michigan Wolverines guard Trey Burke shoots over Syracuse Orange guard Brandon Triche in the first half of the semifinals during the Final Four at the Georgia Dome.]()
Michigan Wolverines guard Trey Burke shoots over Syracuse Orange guard Brandon Triche in the first half of the semifinals during the Final Four at the Georgia Dome.
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports
